Battalion 1944 turns back the clock on modern-futuristic shooters

Back in the mid 2000s, shooters were heavily focussed on World War 2, and why not? An immense amount of source material, weapons, stories and battlegrounds to fixate over, and with online gaming becoming more mainstream, we could fight on these famed stages of war with fellow gamers overseas. The market got too saturated, and with the arrival of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, that all started to change…

From then on, World at War aside, developers started making more modern themed shooters, and then shifting into futuristic, tech heavy titles like Advanced Warfare and Battlefield 4. So many modern shooters came around, that we started to miss the old wars again, in gaming I might add! Is it time to go back in time and experience the Second World War again?

Enter Battalion 1944, a game currently on Kickstarter, being developed by a UK studio called Bulkhead Interactive. They’re looking for £100,000 to see through development of their new title that harks back to the old days of them growing up, playing World War 2 shooters. At the time of writing, the cause has achieved over £83,000 which is fantastic news, and tells you a lot about what gamers are yearning for, a return to the old school of FPS.

The game will focus on infantry combat, so it’s unlikely we’ll see anything in the way of tanks, jeeps or warplanes, but that’s fine. There’s enough of that available to us already, and fighting through towns and villages on foot is more than enough to enjoy.

“Battalion 1944 utilizes the most advanced industry technology to create a visceral and heart-thumping multiplayer experience that has been crafted by the designers who have grown up playing Medal of Honor and Call of Duty 2.”

Battalion 1944 is aiming for a console release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as PC. The prototype in the video is running extremely smoothly, using Unreal Engine 4 to attain the crisp visuals, and just look at the lighting in the forrest!

“Fight in real world locations such as the streets of Carentan, the forests of Bastogne and many more in our spiritual successor to the great multiplayer shooters of the past. Precise aim with your Kar98, covering fire with your M1 Garand and quick thinking with your Thompson are key to your success, all packaged into a competitive multiplayer environment. In short, Battalion 1944 is an infantry based first person shooter with an emphasis on raw skill. No grinding, no ‘exosuits’, just you and your skill as a player.”

There will be no killstreaks or score streaks, no airstrikes or sending in of dogs. Just hard fought warfare. Fight in battalions of friends over seasons, and with each win you can gain XP. Earn enough XP and spend it on cosmetic items for your weapons and character, but nothing will be out of place, and it will all suit the theme and style of World War 2.